Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 15, 2019
First Reading: Wisdom 13.1-9
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Psalm 19
1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.2Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.3There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.4Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,5which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.6Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.7The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;8the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;9the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.11Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.12Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Gospel: Luke 17.26-37
26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.27They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.28Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot--they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,29but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all--30so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.31On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.32Remember Lot's wife.33Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.34I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.35There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left."36See Footnote37And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of recognizing God’s presence in our lives and staying vigilant in our faith. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom warns us against the tendency to worship creation rather than the Creator. It highlights how people often fail to see God’s hand in the beauty and complexity of the world around them, instead attributing divine status to natural elements or human achievements. This passage serves as a call to discernment, urging us to look beyond the surface of things and to acknowledge the divine author of all creation.
The Gospel reading from Luke complements this theme by emphasizing the need for spiritual preparedness. Jesus uses the examples of Noah’s flood and the destruction of Sodom to illustrate how sudden and unexpected the coming of the Son of Man will be. He warns against becoming so engrossed in worldly concerns that we lose sight of what truly matters. The image of people going about their daily lives—eating, drinking, buying, selling—only to be caught off guard by disaster, is a stark reminder that our ultimate destiny is not tied to this world but to the kingdom of God.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. How often do we, like those in the first reading, fail to see God’s hand in the world around us? How often do we, like those in the Gospel, allow ourselves to become so consumed by the routines and distractions of daily life that we neglect our spiritual well-being? The moral lesson here is clear: we must cultivate a deeper awareness of God’s presence in our lives and remain vigilant in our pursuit of holiness. This means being detached from worldly attachments and instead fixing our hearts on what is eternal. As Jesus says, “Wherever the body will be, the eagles shall be gathered together.” Let us strive to be among those who are ready to follow Him wherever He leads.